Council approved Short-Term Accommodations Bylaw (By-law 2025-176) which took effect Dec. 1, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Short-Term Accommodation (STA) means the accommodation or use all or part of a legally established Dwelling Unit, that operates or offers a place of temporary residence, lodging or occupancy by way of concession, payment of a monetary fee, permit, lease, license or rental agreement or similar commercial transaction for a period of less than twenty-eight (28) consecutive nights throughout all or any part of a calendar year and includes a bed and breakfast establishment, but does not include a tourist establishment, a rooming, boarding or lodging house, a motel, a hotel, a hospital, special care facilities as recognized by provincial or federal legislation, a long-term care facility, a campground or similar commercial accommodation use.
- Owner-Occupied Short-Term Accommodation means a Short-Term Accommodation that is within a portion of a Dwelling Unit where the Owner is a full-time resident occupying the property on a full-time basis. Only the Dwelling Unit that the Owner occupies as their principal residence may be considered an Owner-Occupied Short-Term Accommodation. Where a separate Dwelling Unit or Accessory Dwelling Unit on the same property is rented as a Short-Term Accommodation, that unit is not considered an Owner-Occupied Short-Term Accommodation. For administration purposes, any STA that is not an Owner-Occupied STA is considered a Whole-Home STA.
- A Short-Term Accommodation shall have no more than three (3) rooms individually rented; and sleeping accommodation for a maximum of four (4) individuals. Unless it is an entire single-detached Dwelling Unit rented under a single booking.
- A Short-Term Accommodation License expires one year after the date of the issuance.
- There must be a minimum separation distance of 100 metres between Short-Term Accommodation dwellings. Exempted from this is the BDIA, described in City By-law 9275
- Fees:
- Whole-home STAs: $1,000
- Renewal: $500
- Owner-occupied STAs: $500
- Renewal: $250
| I only rent out a room for the odd weekend. Do I need an STA license? |
| Yes, you do! |
| I want to put my basement apartment on Airbnb, do I need a license? |
| Yes, you do! |
| I live in the East End and my neighbour has an STA license. Can I get one too? |
| No, there must be at least 100 metres between STAs. |
Obtaining your license:
Step 1: Complete Application
Submit your application and supporting documentation through the online form.
Short-Term Accommodation License Application
Step 2: Application Reviewed
A license application will only be reviewed once payment for the applicable license fees have been received.
The application will be reviewed by the licensing officer and the following:
- Planning Department
- Building Department
- By-law Enforcement
- Belleville Fire Prevention
The departments listed may reach out to you directly if any additional information is required.
Step 3: Application Outcome
The application is either approved or denied based on inspection reports and reviews of the application.
- If approved – the license will be issued.
- If denied – the application may proceed to the appeal.
Renewing your license:
STA owners are required to renew their license annually. A license may be renewed within one calendar year, prior to the expiry date of the license, by completing the online form with all supporting documentation.